26 Australia : The Dairy Country. 



NEW SOUTH WALES. 



In the coastal districts of New South Wales and throughout a 

 vast extent of the northern and central tableland districts dairy 

 farming is a profitable and constantly-expanding industry. 



In the older settled district of Illawarra, comprising the greater 

 portion of the south coast district, dairying has been the main 

 industry for many years, and there is not much first-class land 

 unoccupied. There is, however, in this district ample scope for 

 tenant farmers and for dairying on shares on several large estates 

 where the experienced man of small means with children old 

 enough to help in the work can make a good living, and save with 

 the object of later on obtaining a farm of his own. In the north coast 

 district the strides being made in dairying are phenomenal. There 

 is a fair amount of first-class unimproved bush country available 

 for settlement on the upper reaches of the Tweed and Richmond 

 Rivers, and large estates have been subdivided by private owners, 

 and offered for sale on very easy terms at from $19.20 to $28.80 per 

 acre. Many farmers who find that better returns can be obtained by 

 carrying a decreased number of specially good cows on a small 

 area intensively worked are ready to dispose of areas, so that a new- 

 comer with capital necessary to acquire land in this highly-favoured 

 district can soon be suited. Owing to the big returns from dairying 

 in the best parts of the settled portions of the north coast, land 

 values are high, ranging to over $96.00 per acre. 



Suitable areas of Crown lands are brought forward from time to 

 time in districts adapted for dairying at prices, as a rule, lower than 

 the lands in private subdivisions. 



In tne central and north coast district there are several 

 large private subdivisions of excellent dairy land. In the tableland 

 districts, where the rainfall averages 30 in. per annum, dairy farm- 

 ing has taken firm hold. Private owners are also cutting up tracts 

 of splendid partially-improved land, and offering it at from $19.20 to 

 $28.80 per acre, on liberal terms. 



The natural grasses of New South Wales, especially in the well- 

 watered districts along the coast, grow in great luxuriance, and are 

 rich in milk-producing qualities. In many districts imported 

 grasses, such as Rhodes, Paspalum dilatatum, and Philaris, rye 

 grass and red clover have been introduced, and soon become well 

 established. In the most favourable portions of the State farmers 

 are able to depend almost solely on the grazing qualities of their 

 farms, although the experts of the Department strongly assert the 

 wisdom of growing winter feed.. 



New South Wales has many fine herds of all the approved 

 breeds. The Jersey is perhaps the most popular, but there are 

 also many good herds of Ayrshires, Guernseys, Holsteins, and other 

 approved breeds. 



